John Dos Passos is a prominent representative of the group of writers belonging to “Lost Generation” with such great creators as Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Manhattan Transfer is one of John Dos Passos’s popular novels devoted to life in New York. The writer touches upon the range of burning issues concerned the living in the industrial society.
John Passos criticizes American capitalism in his novel. He presents the crimes of American capitalism including the corruption of Blackhead, Dutch Robertson’s returning from the prison that does not stop him from stealing money, Gus McNeil’s denial of the class that he belonged to in the past, and others. The writer presents the influence of American capitalism on the people who value materialistic things more than spiritual ones. All people of the industrial society are fighting for their survival in the city that never sleeps. Jimmy uses his wits to achieve success in society while Ellen hopes on her beauty that helps her to make her way through. Emile uses her profitable wedding to survive in New York while Congo is involved in the business of bootlegging. Everyone does all possible to achieve success and earn money and the laws of morality do not stop them from their mercenary aims. Nevertheless, not everyone is succeeded to achieve their aims. New York is depicted as a city that is hostile to one’s and friendly to others. There are wins and failures. Even if you are the winner today you may become the loser tomorrow. Bud, Stan, and Joe enlarge the list of losers as far as they do not manage in achieving success despite all their efforts. Joe finds the decision of his problems in alcohol while Bud and Stun commit suicide. New York is merciless to people.
The theme of war plays a very important role in this novel as far as John Passos participated in hostilities during the world wars and this theme is very delicate for him. Nevertheless, he depicts war from another point of view. The reader does not observe the experience of veterans and their memories about the world wars that do not allow living an ordinary life. The soldiers of John Passos’s novel are not chased with horrible memories. Participation in war is a source of their pride. James Merivale calls “it a great war while it lasted”. Although the novel presents the time after the world wars the writer points out that the war does not stop in the industrial society. It is another kind of war without any shots and murders. It is not the war between nations; it is the war between classes. The war between the poor and the rich continues. There is a gulf between these two social classes. It should be noted that poverty, as well as wealth, is destructive for people.
The theme of death is also depicted in Manhattan Transfer. There are two major deaths described in the novel and both are suicides. New York is on the way to industrial development does not pay attention to the number of deaths and these deaths are forgiven by society. Death is a normal phenomenon during the war. Although the world wars end another war takes even more lives. Death captures the life in the city of New York. There are many cases of accidents, car crashes, fires, and reports of murders that are not even surprising for the citizens of New York. People who are in a hurry to make money do not pay attention to these deaths.
Love also plays a central role in the novel. Although American capitalism seems to capture all human qualities making them unfeeling animals searching for money some characters want to find love and be loved. Love seems to be the only wealth for some people in this cold city. A permanent need for love is reflected in Ellen’s life. There is also Pearline who loves her husband and runs for his defense; Anna Cohen who dreams of being with Elmer; Florence whose memory is captured with reminiscences about her youth with Jack and others. It should be pointed out that primarily female characters search for love while men are depicted rather as breadwinners and warriors in this society. It may be concluded by the reader that American capitalism has more power over men who are captured with the desire to make money and have a position in society. Women relate to love while men are connected with the war in this novel. This depiction is symbolic in Manhattan Transfer. John Passos depicts the city in a state of war where men are fighting while their women wait for them at home.
From the above said, we may conclude that John Passos touches upon the burning themes of industrial society. The basic themes are American capitalism, war, death, and love. People live during the devastating war namely the war between classes and there is no wonder that there are a lot of victims. Nevertheless, some pieces of love are survived in this corruptive society.
Work cited
Passos, Dos John. Manhattan Transfer: A Novel. 1st ed., Mariner Books, 2003.